Centerless grinding machine



M w, 1929. O N 1,7229% CENTERLESS GRINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21. 1922 5sheets-sheet 1,

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may: 'H i fiuiy 3@, 19290 C. H. NORTON CENTERLESS GRINDING MACHINE FiledNov. 21. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @hm/es 7" u y 192% c. H. NORTON 7 3 72236CENTERLES S GRINDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21. 1.922 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 y WeI haries r71 Nmbn Emily 36?, 192% C. NORTON CENTERLESS GRINDING MACHINEFiled Nov. 21, 192.2 5 Sheets-Sheet (Thar/g5 v July 30, 1929. c. H.NORTON GENTERLESS GRINDING IJIACI-IINE Filed NOv- 21. 1.922 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July 30, 1929.

' oFFicE.

CHARLES H. NORTON, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, TO CINCINNATI GRINDERS INCORPORATED, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO,A

CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CENTERLESS GRINDING MACHINE.

Application filed November 21, 1922. Serial No. 602,451.

My invention relates to grinding apparatus and more particularly to acenterless grinding machine for automatically grinding objectsof roundcross-section, such as cylindrical objects, for example, to the sameradius.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of thisinvention it might at this point be noted that my invention is directedtoward and includes certain improvements upon the heretofore known andhighly advantageous cylindrical centerless grinding machine in which twoopposed abrasive wheels, having the work supported therebetween, are sodriven that one is ro tated at a high speed and serves'as a grindingwheel and the other is rotated slowly to control the rotation of thework; by having the path of travel of the operative surface ofthe'controlling wheel tilted relative to the path of travel of the workalong the intermediate work support, the control wheel acts to feed thecylindrical work in an axial direction and hence past the operativesurface of the grinding wheel. Where the two Wheels operate by way oftheir peripheries and hence are perip erally opposed, .this feedingaction by the control wheel may be achieved by tilting the axisof thelatter wheel relative to the axis of the cylindrical work held inoperative relation to the two Wheelsby the Work support. Such a tiltedrelation results in requiring that the surface of the regulating wheelbe slightly concave in order that it may contact with the work in astraight line whileat the same time achieving the feeding action abovedescribed; the trueing of the control wheel into this form gives rise inpractice to certain difiiculties. One of the objectspf this invention isto provide an apparatus of the above-mentioned character in which suchdiflieulties may be avoided and overcome in a thoroughly practical anddependable manner.

Another object of this invention is to proyide a grinding apparatus ofthe above- -mentioned character in which a number of thoroughlypractical advantages over known types of centerle's's grinding machinesmay be realized and to provide a grinding appa ratus in which, forexample, the length of time during which a work piece is subjected tothe action of the grinding wheel need not be limited by the feedingaction of the control wheel'but, moreover, may be predetermined to meetthe varying conditions of practical use. Another object is to provide anapparatus of the above-mentioned general character in which the work tobe operated upon is moved axially through the grinding throat formed bythe grinding wheel and the work control wheel, and, moreover, bymechanism fully automatic throughout and of thoroughly dependable andefficient action. Another object is to provide a grinding machine of theabovementioned character capable of performing a number of successivedifferent grinding operations upon the work pieces but in a manner freefrom detrimentall affecting the control of the rotation of the workpieces by the control wheel. More particularly, another object of myinvention is to provide an automatic centerless grinding machine whichwill move the work relatively slowly into the grinding throat and intofull contact with the grinding wheel, permit'the work to remainlongitudinally stationary, and then move the work in .an axial directionout of the grinding throat, all while the work is being rotated by thework rotating wheel.

Another object' of this invention is to provide a grinding apparatuswell adapted to perform. heavy duty grinding but in a manner adapted toproduce a high degree of accuracy and a highly finished surface on thecompleted work piece. Another object is to provide a'centerless grindingmachineof such a mode of operation that the sometimes unavoidable springof the various parts of the, apparatus is prevented from affecting highaccuracy and uniformity of grinding action.

Another object is to provide a grinding apparatus of the above-mentionedcharacter which will be of thoroughly practical ac- .tion, ruggedconstruction, and capableXof hing economically constructed and operated,and to provide such an apparatus capable of being readily adjusted togrinding variousv sizes and shapes of work rapidly and with the-desireddegree of precision. Other objebts will be in part obvious or in partpointed out hereinafter. it

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts aswill beexemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scopeof the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various possibleembodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus, certain parts, however, beingremoved or broken away in order to show certain features of theconstruction more clearly;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the apparatus as seen from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the apparatus and also shows the apparatus asseen from the left of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front view showing particularly a preferredrelation between the wheels, work support and work and also a preferredform of mounting for the work control wheel;

Fig. 5 is a detail view on anenlarged scale of the upper portion of theapparatus as seen from the right in Fig. 1 but with the grinding wheeland the mounting of the latter removed;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view on an enlarged scale showing apreferredform of work support and a preferred relation between the latter and thetwo wheels;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 3 showing apossible arrangement for swiveling the work rotating wheel;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the plunger mechanism shown in Fig.5 .but on a smaller scale than that of the latter figure;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 2showing a portion of the universal driving connections;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line 111 1 of Fig. 10 showing themounting of a casing for one of the driving gears; and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrative of a preferred mode ofoperation of the apparatus.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral-views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3,there 1s shown a main frame or supporting base for the apparatus, thisframe being preferably made up of two parts 1 and 2. Upon the upperportion of the part 1 of the base there is mounted a carriage or slide11 on which is rotatably mounted a grinding wheel 12, the carriage 11being slidably mounted upon the base portion 1 by way of suitableguiding ways preferably of the usual V and flat type.

The construction of the mounting for the grinding wheel may be of anysuitable type and may, for example, be substantially as shown in myPatent No. 1,261,156 of April 2, 1918. The grinding wheel 12 is mountedon a suitable spindle driven by belt 25 from a main drive shaft 26rotatably supported in the base portion 1 of the apparatus. The spindlemay be supported in bearings and oiled substantially in the manner asillustrated in my Patent No. 1,191,986 of July 25, 1916. In order toadjustably position the carriage 11 and hence the grinding wheel 12along the ways coacting with the former, I provide the carriage 11 witha half-nut 35 upon the under side thereof adapted to engage and coactwith the screw 34 which is rotatably supported in any suitable manner inthe base'portion of the apparatus. Conveniently, the left hand end ofthe screw 34 as seen in Fig. 1 is provided with a gear 33- adapted to bedriven by a smaller gearor pinion 82 which is mounted upon the inner endof the shaft 31. The shaft 31 is rotatably supported in any suitablemanner in the base portion of the apparatus and ex tends to the leftthereof as seen in Fig. 1, terminating at its outer end in a crank arm30 whereby the shaft 31 and hence the screw 34 may be manually rotated.Thus the carriage 11 and the grinding wheel 12 may be adjustablypositioned along the ways supporting the carriage.

I may, however, supplement the manual control of the screw 34, as bymeans of the crank arm 30 above mentioned, by a suitable micrometermechanism generally indicated at 36; this mechanism may take the form asdescribed in detail in my Patent N 0. 762,838 of June 14, 1904. It may,however, at this point be noted that in the ordinary grinding operationperformed by my apparatus and in-which but a relatively small amount ofstock is removed from the work, the adjusting mechanism above described,after having once been operated to predetermine the diameter to whichthe work is to be reduced, as will be more clearly describedhereinafter, need be operated only to adjust the position of thegrinding wheel from time to time as the wheel wears away.

Supported upon the base portion 2 of the apparatus, through appropriateintervening mechanism to be hereinafter more clearly described, and inperipheral opposition to the grinding wheel 12 is a wheel 15; wheel 15is preferably made of abrasive material but is driven, in a manner moreclearly hereinafter described, to drive the worker to act with suitableways 51 extending in a. general vertical direction along one face of astandard 50, a screw 54 manually operable through the hand wheel 55permitting the slide 52 and hence the wheel 15 to be adjustedvertically.

The standard 50 forms part of a slide 40 which is mounted to beadjustable horizontally in a direction toward or away from the grindingwheel 12 as seen in Fig. 4,- and relative to a slide 14 which in turn ismounted for adjusting movement horizontally but in a direction crosswiseof the peripheral operative surface of the grinding wheel 12.

.More specifically, the slide 14 is provided with a dove-tailed portionor way 42 along which the slide 40 and standard may be adjusted by meansof a screw 44 threaded into the dove-tailed p'brtion 42 and passing atits outer end freely through a depending arm 45 on the slide 40; a handwheel 43 is mounted upon the outer end of the screw 44 and abuts againstthe bracket 42, while a collar 46 on the screw 44 abuts against theother face of the bracket 45. Thus the manual rotation of the screw 44permits the slide 40, and hence standard 50, to be adjustably moved in adirection toward or away from the grinding wheel 12.

The slide 14 is guided by the dove-tailed portion or way 59 along whichthe slide 14 may be adjustably positioned by means of the screw 64 (seeFig. 5) manually operable by way of the hand Wheel 63. The dovetailedportion or way 59 is formed in the upper face of a turntable 58 (Figs. 4and 5) which is secured to the base portion 2 of the apparatus by means,for example, of the screws 60 (see Fig. 8) threaded into the base andpassing through elongated arcuate slots 61 in the turntable. Themounting of the turntable 58 thus permits the latter with the mechanismcarried thereby to be swiv elled or adjusted about a vertical axis, thescrews 60 permitting the turntable 58 to be locked into its adjustedposition.

The control wheel 15 will thus be seen to be mounted to be adjustablevertically by way of the hand wheel 55, adjustable in a direction towardor away from the grinding wheel 12 as by means of the hand wheel 43 andadjustable also in a direction substantially lengthwise of the axis ofthe wheel 15 by means of the hand wheel 63. 'In the preferred embodimentof certain features of my invention the axis of the control wheel 15 ispreferably parallel to the axis of the grinding wheel 12. Should it bedesired, however, that the axes of the two wheels be arranged at anangle relative to one another, such an angular relation may be achievedby way of adjusting the turntable 58 about its vertical axis ashereinabove described.

The slide 14 is provided at its right hand end, as seen in Fig. 4, witha dove-tailed guideway 21 extending lengthwise of the axis of the wheel15; upon this dove-tailed way 21 is mounted a slide 16 (Figs; 4 and 5)which may be adjustably positioned lengthwise of the ways 21 and hencelongitudinally of the grinding th-roat'of which the adjacent operativesurfaces of the wheels 12 and 15 form a part, by means of a suit ablenut and screw mechanism which may comprise a screw 22 threaded into themember 21 as is illustrated in Fig. 5. Upon the slide 16 is mounted awork support 17 for holding the rotating work during the grindingoperation; the work support 17 may conveniently be secured to the slide16 by means of a tongue and groove construction indicated generally at18 in Fig. 4, and may be fixed in place by a clamping member 19 fastenedto the slide 16 by means of cap.

screws 20. The relation of the parts is such that the work support 17extends lengthwise and intermediate of the adjacent operative surfacesof the wheels 12 and :15, as will be clear from Fig. 5. Preferably thework support 17 is of a suflicient length to extend to either side ofthe opposed wheels so as to dependably support the work as it entersinto and moves out of operative relation to the adjacent operativesurfaces of the two wheels (see Fig. 5). The wheels 12 and 15 are drivenin d1- rections as indicated in Fig. 4, the grind ng wheel 12 beingrotated rapidly to gr nd the work and the abrasive wheel 15 be ngrotated slowly s5 as to control the rotation of the work. the latterbeing held in operative relation to the two. wheels by the Work support17. The wheel 15 may be rotated by' any suitable mechanism, but I preferto employ a universal driving mechanism constructed and arranged so thatthe desired drive of the wheel 15 may be maintained even though thelatter may have its relation to the source of power changed as by way.

of any of the adjustments of the wheel 15 as hereinabove described. Apreferred form of universal driving mechanism I have il lustrated inFigs. 2, 3, 5, 10 and 11. Referring first to Fig. 3, there is providedin the base portions 12 of the apparatus a horizontally extending shaft92 supported for rotation in any suitable way; shaft 92 is driven fromthe main driving. shaft 26 by way of a pair of spiral gears 93-94. Theright hand end of the shaft 92 as seen in Fig. 3 has mounted upon it aspiral gear 91 (see Fig. 2) which meshes with and drives a spiral gear.90 fixed upona shaft 87 which extends transversely of the base tothe'rear of the apparatus and carries at its outer end (the left-handend as seen in .Fig. 2) a spiral gear 86 which meshes with and drives aspiral gear 85 fixed to a short shaft 84 to which is also secured aspiral gear 83. The shaft 84 is rotatably supported in a casing 88 whichencases the gears 88, 85 and 86 and which in turn is mounted so as toswing about the shaft 87 as an axis. Spiral gear 83 meshes with anddrives a spiral gear 82 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is secured to the lowerend of an upwardly extendingshaft 80. The lower end of the shaft 80 isrotatably supported by a casing 81 which encases the gear 82 and whichin turn is mounted to swing about the shaft 84 as a pivot.

The shaft 80 is hollow and has extended into it in telescopic relationand splined thereto a shaft 78, from which the work rotating wheel 15 isdriven by a driving con nection substantially similar to that betweenthe shaft 80 and the shaft 87.

This driving connection preferably includes a spiral gear 72 mountedupon the spindle 57 of the control wheel 15 (see Fig. 5), and meshingwith the spiral gear 72 is a spiral gear 73 (see Figs. 1g and- 11) whichis secured to a shaft 74 rotatably supported in a casing 79 mounted, asis indicated in Fig. 11, to swing about the shaft 57 as an axis. Securedto shaft 74 is a spiral gear 76 which is driven by a spiral gear 77mounted upon the upper end of the shaft 7 8. The upper end of shaft 78is rotatably supported by a casing 75 which encascs the gear 77 andwhich is pivotally mounted on thegear casing 70, as shown in Fig. 10, sothat .it may swing about the axis of'the shaft 74. Thus the wheel 15 maybe given any desired adjustment by way of the mechanism hereinbeforedescribed and, assuming that it is adjust-ed vertically, as by thehandwheel 55, it will be seen that the driving con nection between thewheel 15 and the main driving shaft 26 is maintained due to thetelescopic relation between the shafts7880. Also, should the wheel 15 bemoved in a direction toward or away from the grinding wheel 12, as bymanipulation of the hand-wheel 43 (see Fig. 3), the gear casings 75 andswing about the shaft 57 as an ax1s,'and the gear casings 81 and 88 maytogether as a unitswing about the axis of the shaft 87 moreover, thisswinging action will be seen to take place without interference with thedriving connections between the coacting spiral gears. Also, should thewheel 15 be moved in a direction lengthwise of its axis, as bymanipulation of the handwheel 63 (see Fig. 5), the gear casing 81 withthe shaft 80 simply swings about the axis of the shaft 84 while theshaft 78 with the gear casing swings about the axis of the shaft 74, allwithout interfering with the driving connections between the respectivegears. Thus the driving mechanism permits the giving-of a universalmotion of adjustment to the work rotating wheel 15 so that any desiredadjustment of the latter may be accomplished, all while maintaining thedriving connection between the wheel 15 and the main driving shaft 26.

In order to eliminate any possible strain upon the telescopic shaft78-80 I provide a telescopic guide rod 95 (see Fig. 3) which ispivotally mounted at its lower end to the projections 96 onthe gearcasing 88 and is pivotally secured at its upper end to the projections97 of the gear casing 70. Thus, as the work rotating wheel 15 is movedto make the necessary adjustments, the guide rod 95 will swing thecasing in accordance with the changed position of the casing 70 and thusrelieve the drive shaft 7 880 of the strain or elfort necessary to movethe gear casing.

Upon the front and upper portion or the base portion 2 of the apparatus,that is, at the left-hand portion thereof as seen in Fig. 5 and at theright-hand portion thereof as seen in Fig. 2, I provide a dove-tailedmember 122 extending in a direction transversely of the directioninwhich the work support 17 extends; this member 122 slidably guides aslide 121 which has appropriate undercut ways for coaction with the"dove-tailed member 122. The slide 121 car.

ries a standard 112 which is provided at its upper portion with asleeve-like member 111 extending in a direction lengthwise of the worksupport 17. The member 111 forms a bearing within which a plunger isslidably guided. i

The plunger 110 is provided at its outer end with an enlarged head 117and between the head 117 and the portion 111 the plunger 110 carries andis encircled by a helical spring 116 which tends to expand and thusprovide a bearing for the shaft; a collar or enlarged portion 126 of theshaft 125 rests on the top of post 120. The spring 116 holds the camfollower 114 of the 'plunger 110 in contact with the peripheral camsurface of the cam 118. The cam 118 is so shaped as to give the desiredstroke to the plunger 110 and, as illustrated in Fig. 9, the cam may beof circular outline but eccen- -trically mounted upon the shaft 125; itwill be understood, however, that any suitable means may be employed formoving the plunger 110 forward at any desired rate or velocity or at achanging rate.

The shaft 125 is conveniently driven at a suitable speed from the shaft87 mounted in the base of the machine. Preferably shaft 87 carries aspiral gear 128 which meshes with a mating spiral gear 129 carried on avertical shaft 130 which is suitably mounted in bearings which for thesake of greater clarity of illustration are not shown in the drawings. Auniversal joint 131 connects the shaft 130 with the hollow shaft member132 within which slides or telescopes a shaft 1341- connected by auniversal coupling 133 to the shaft 125. Suitable means may be providedfor moving the slide 121 relative to the base portion of the machine andmay comprise a screw-threaded member 128 (Fig. 2) the construction andoperation of which may be similar to those of the adjusting,

mechanisms for the other slides hereinbefore described and also shown inthe drawings. Thus the plunger 110 may be adjustably positioned relativeto the work support 17, as byadjustment of the slide 121, though it mayat this point he noted that the various adjustable slides supporting theregulating wheel 15, work support 17 and grinding wheel 12- may beadjusted individually or in coaction with each other and with theadjustment of the plunger 110 to achieve the desired interrelation ofthe several parts of the apparatus. The flexible and telescopic drivingconnection between the shaft 87 and the cam 118 (Fig. 2), however, willbe seen effectively to maintain the drive of the cam throughout whateverchanges of position are given the plunger 110 and the cam 118. Thediameter of. the plunger 110 is preferably slightly less than that ofthe work pieces to be operated upon.

Coacting with the forward portion of the plunger 110 is a'magazine 136better shown in Figs. 5 and 6 mounted upon the upper portion of thestandard 112. The magazine 136 extends vertically, is open-ended at thebottom where it substantially overhangs the front end of the worksupport 17 and is shaped and adapted to receive a suitable number ofround work pieces 1410 (Fig. 5) with their axes extending in thedirection of the plunger 110 and one work piece on top of another.

In so far as certain broader features of my invention are concerned, thework-engaging surface of the work support 17 may be of any suitable formor shape but in accordance with certain other features of my invention Iprefer to form the work-engaging surface substantially in the form of aportion of a cylinder whose radius is the same as that to which the workpiece is to be reduced and whose axis extends lengthwise of the grindingthroat. In Fig. 7 I have indicated this preferred form of cylindricallyconcaved surface at 100 and I may cut away a portion of this surface asindicated at 101. Also, I preferably form the outer portions of theconcave surface 100 so that they veer off as substantially tangentialplanes so as to readily accommodate and hold oversized worlc pieces.When using thispreferred form of Work rest the parts thereof arepreferably so proportioned and located relative to the two abrasivewheels 12 and 15 that lines drawn from the centers of the abrasivewheelsrespectively through the center of the work pieces will intersectthese tangential planes as shown by the arrows at and. Z) in Fig. 7.Asis further shown in Fig. 4, 1 preferably so relate the two wheels tothe work support 17 that the center of a work piece in the grindingthroat formed thereby is positioned beneath a line connecting thecenters of the wheels though it is to be un' derstood that this featureis not essential in so far as certain broader aspects of my inventionare concerned. Also, it is to be understood that when the apparatus isto operate upon a different size of work piece, the work support 17 willbe replaced by one whose surface 100 (Fig. 7) has an appro priate andcorrespondingly different radius of curvature and that suitableadjustments of the wheels relative to the work support may be made tosuit the grinding throat to the new size of work to be operated upon.

Considering now the operation of the apparatus, it is first to be notedthat the workrotating wheel 15 and the grinding wheel 12 are rotated inthe direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 4 and are thus made to presentadjacent operative surfaces traveling in opposite directions and beingperipherally opposed are rotated about their axes in the same direction.The operative surface of the grinding wheel 12 will be seen to traveldownwardly toward the work support 17 and that of the work-rotatingwheel 15 upwardly or away from the work support 17.

The grinding wheel 12 .is driven at a rapid rate appropriate forgrinding, and the smaller wheel 15 is driven at a slow rate so that itserves to control the rate of rotation of the work; the work-rotatingwheel forms in one sense a part of the work support to prevent vibrationof the work piece which 7 is being ground by the grindingwheel 12.

The work support 17 is preferably made about three times as long as thework piece to be operated upon and, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5, itnot only extends between the wheels but also projects beneath themagazine 136 on one side of the wheels and extends beyond the wheels onthe other side thereof. The rear or right-hand end of work support 17(Fig. 5) has substantially aligned with it a downwardly inclined chute142 mounted on supports 143 and 144 arranged with suitable joints whichwill permit movement of the various slides and yet hold the chute inproper position.

Assuming the cam 118 to be in the position shown in Fig. 5, plunger 110is retracted by spring 116 and permits the lowermost work piece of thestack of work pieces 140 in the magazine 136 to drop upon the forwardend of the work support 17, the concaved surface 100 of whichconveniently acts to hold the work piece from rolling off of the worksupport, 17 Cam 118 advances the plunger 110 to the right as viewed inFig. 5, the plunger 110 pushing the work along the support 17 and inbetween the two wheels, the control wheel 15 rotating the work piecewhile the grinding wheel 12 performs a grinding operation thereon andperforming a progressive grinding operation thereon substantially fromthe forward end of the work piece to the rear end thereof. The plunger110 is thereupon retracted, leaving the work piece at rest between thetwo wheels while the grinding wheel performs a second grinding operationthereon during which .the' grinding wheel grinds its way out as it wereuntil the spring of the apparatus has been taken up and the wheel hassubstantially finished its grinding action. The retraction of theplungerllO permits another or second work piece to drop out of themagazine 186 and thesubsequent advance of the plunger 110, all under thecontrol of cam 118, causes the second work piece to engage theabovementioned or first work piece which is still at rest thoughrotating between'the wheels, whence the plunger 110 causes the twoaxially aligned work pi'eces'to 'be moved along the work support 17. Thefirst work piece is thus moved out of the grinding throat and duringthis longitudinal movement ast the grinding wheel the latter removes allwheel marks and puts a. polished, finish on the surface of the workpiece. During this action the second work piece is moved into thegrinding throat during which movement the grinding wheel performsthereon the progressive grinding operation as above described inconnection withithe 4 first work piece. 'These cycles are repeated tactwith the wheels.

ly a portion of the apparatus illustrating how the above-describedgrinding operations may be carried on if desired; as indicated in Fig.12 the abrasive wheels may be wider than the length of the work ifdesired so that the corners of the two wheels at the entry end of thegrinding throat may become rounded due to wear where the work firstcontacts with the wheels but still provide substantially parallel linesof contact throughout the whole extent of the work piece when the latterhas been brought into full con- It might also be noted that I mayeffectively force an over-sized work piece along the work support 17 thegrinding wheel effectively reducing the work piece progressively as thelatter passes the front corner of the grinding wheel.

It will be seen that I am enabled to subject the work piece to threesuccessive stages of grinding, all by way of the same apparatus. I maycause the apparatusto take a heavy initial or roughing cut during thefirst grinding stage when the work piece is forced into the grindingthroat; this it will be seen I achieve by feeding the work along itsaxis into contact with the corner of the peripheral face of the grindingwheel 12 and then moving it at a substantially uniform rate until it hascome into full contact with the grinding wheel whose face is preferablysufliciently wide to grind the work piece along its whole length. Thenthe work piece is permitted to remain longitudinally stationary butitcontinues to rotate-under the control of the work-rotating wheel 15andduring this continuing rotation is ground along its entire length bythe grinding wheel 12, the latter grinding its way out and substantiallycompleting a rough grinding-operation. The subsequent movement of thework piece out of the grinding throat provides, in the third stage, apolished and finished surface. All of these three operations will beseen to be performed by the same grinding wheel.

When a work support having the concave surface 100 (Fig. 7) is employed,I achieve the further advantage that .during the grinding period whenthe work is longitu-- dinally immovable the work gradually and by ,aseries of progressive approximations approaches and finally achieves theshape and radius of the work supporting cylindr'ical surface 100;thereafter and during the finish grinding stage the work substantiallyfits the surface 100 and thus is carefully steadied while its surface isgiven the final finish. It is to be understood, however, that manyfeatures of my invention may be achieved without utilizing thispreferred form of work-supporting surface.

It will thus be seen that. there been.

provided in this invention an apparatus in whlch the severalobjects-hereinbefo're noted as well as many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. It will be seen that the apparatusis capable of a wide range of adjustment, is of thoroughly practical andrugged construction and action and is Well adapted to meet the varyingconditions of hard practical use.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and asmany changes might be made-in the embodiment above set fort-h, it is tobe understood that all matter hereinbfore set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a grinding machine, in combination, agrinding wheel; a support to hold round Work in operative contact withsaid wheel and providing a path of travel for the work past theoperative surface of said grinding wheel; means for rotating saidgrinding wheel; means for rotating the work on said support; and meansto move the Work in the direction of its axis and along the path oftravel provided by said support, while said work is rotating, and intosubstantially full grinding contact with said grindingwheel, then tocause halting of the work on said support to permit it to be groundwhile rotating and remaining immovable in an axial direction, andthereafter to move the work, while being rotated and ground, along saidsupport and out of operative relation to said wheel.

2. A centerless grinding machine compris ing two peripherally opposedabrasive wheels, means to maintain work of round section in operativecontact with the wheels, means to rotate'said wheels, one rapidly andthe other slowly to grind and rotate the work, and means independent ofsaid wheels to move the work along its axial line into operative contactwith said wheels to ini-- tiate rotation and grinding of the work,thereafter permit the work to be ground while rotating but remaininglongitudinally immovable and then move the work axially while beingground until out of engagement with said wheels. i

-3. A centerless grinding machine comprising two peripherally opposedabrasive wheels having parallel axes, a support therebetween having awork supporting surface below a line joining the wheel centers, means torotate said wheels in the same peripheral direction, one rapidly togrind the work and the other slowly to rotate the work, andautomatically operated means to move the work axially parallel with thewheel axes into contact with the peripheral corners of said wheels, thengradually until in full contact with the peripheral wheel faces, thenpermit the work to remain longitudinally immovable while being groundand thereafter remove the. work from engagement with said wheels.

4. A grinding machine comprising pe-.

lll)llt.lllll opposed abrasive wheels having parallel axes, means tohold cylindrical work between and in contact with said wheels. means torotate. the wheels, one

rapidly and the other slowly, for grinding ply pieces of work thereto, aplunger to move the work axially along said supporting surface and a"said plunger. I

6. A centerless grinding machine comprising opposed abrasive wheels, aWork support to hold cylindrical work between and in contact with saidwheels, means to rotate. the wheels, one rapidly and the other. slowly,to grind and rotate the work, means to provide a supply of work piecesand'recip'rocatory mechanism independent of said wheels to power drivendevice to move pass said pieces in succession axially into grindingcontact with the faces of said Wheels.

7. A grinding machine comprising a base, a grinding wheel mountedthereon. means to rotate said grinding wheel, a work support mounted onsaid base having a concave partial cylindrical surface of substantiallythe same radius as the finished work for holding the work against theperiphery of said wheel, a slide mounted for transverse movement towardand from the work support, a work regulating wheel rotatably mounted onsaid slide, means to rotate said wheel for any position of the slide andmeans independent of said wheels to move the work axially for thegrinding operation.

8. A grinding machine comprising a base having transverse Ways, a slidemovable on said. ways, a grinding wheel rotatably mounted on the slide,a Work support having a concave partial cylindrical surface axiallyparallel with said wheel, a slide mounted for movement toward and fromthe work support, a work regulating wheel rotatably mounted on saidslide in opposition to the grinding wheel, means to rotate the grindingwheel rapidly and the other slowly to grind and rotate the Work, andmeans independent of said wheels to move face in contact with saidwheels.

9. A grinding machine comprising a grinding Wheel and a work regulatingwheel in peripheral opposition, means to rotate the grinding wheel at agrinding speed and the regulating wheel at a speed and in a direction tocontrol the rotation of work of round section interposed therebetween, asupport to maintain the work between said wheels, means to move thewheels relatively toward each other and into contact with the work,means to adjust the work rotating wheel vertically so that it may belocated adjacent the grinding wheel and axially above the work axis, andmeans independent of said wheels to pass a round work piece in adirection substantially parallel with its axis along the support intocontact with said wheels.

10. A grinding machine comprising a grinding wheel and a work regulatingwheel having parallel axes, means to rotate the grinding wheel at agrinding speed and the regulating wheel at a speed and in a direction tocontrol the rotation of work of round section interposed therebetween, awork support having a concave partial cylindrical surface between saidwheels but below a line connecting their centers, means to move thewheels relatively toward each other and into contact with the work,means to. adjust the work rotating wheel vertically relative to thework, and positive means independent of said wheels to move a round workpiece in a direction substantially parallel with its axis along thesupport during grindin 11. A grinding machine comprising a base, agrinding wheel mounted thereon, a slide mounted on said base to moveparallel with the grinding wheel axis, a work support on said slidehaving a concave partial cylindrical work supporting surface, a workregulating abrasive wheel mounted on said slide in peripheral oppositionto the grinding wheel, means to rotate said grinding wheel at a grindingspeed and the work regulating wheel at a speed and in a direction tocontrol the rotation of work of round section interposed therebetween,and means independent of the wheels to pass the work positively alongthe work support for the grinding operation.

12. A grinding machine comprising a base, a grinding wheel rotatablymounted thereon, a work regulating wheel in peripheral oppositionthereto, means to rotate said grinding wheel at a grinding speed and thework regulating wheel at a speed and in a direction to control therotation of work of round section interposed therebetween, a worksupport between the wheels, means to move the work rotating wheel andthe work support in a direction substantially parallel with the grindingwheel axis independently of each other and positive means to move a workpiece of round section axially along the support in contact with saidwheels.

' 13. A grinding machine comprising a rapidly rotatable grinding wheel,a slowly rotatable, work regulating wheel axially parallel with andperipherally opposed to the grind ing wheel, means to rotate the wheels,the grinding wheel rapidly and the regulating wheel. slowlytorespectively grind and rotate the work piece of round sectioninterposed therebetween, a work support therebetween, means to adjustone of said wheels relatively to the other and the work, means to supplya succession ot-work pieces to the support in substantially axialparallelism with the wheel axes and means independent of the wheels tomove a single piece of work axially and progressively into the grindingzone in contact with the wheel peripheries.

1 1-. A, grinding machine comprising a rapidly rotatable grinding wheeland a slowly rotatable work regulating wheel having their axes paralleland their peripheral faces opposed, a support therebetween having aconcavepartial cylindrical surface axially parallel with the Wheel axes,means to adjust said wheels relative to the Work, means to I rotate thewheels, means to s'upplya succession 01. work pieces to and axiallyparallel with the work supporting surface and positively operatedmechanism independent of the wheels to move said work piecessuccessively along their axial line into operative relation to saidwheels.

1 15. A grinding machine comprising a grinding wheel and a workregulating wheel having parallel axes and peripherally opposed grindingfaces, means to move one of said wheels relatively to the other, a worksupport between the wheels, means to move it relative to the wheels andpositively actuated mechanism to move work along said support ingrinding contact with said wheels for any position of the support.

16. A grinding machine comprising a grinding wheel and a work regulatingwheel having opposed faces, a work support therebetween, which isadjustable about a vertical axis, means "to rotate said wheels andpositively actuated mechanism to move work along said support intooperative relation to said two wheels.

17. A grinding machine comprising a grinding wheel, a table mounted toswivel about a vertical axis, a. work regulating wheel and a worksupport on said table,

means to move one of said wheels relative to said work support toadjustfor different sizes of work, means to rotate said wheelsand meanspositively actuated to movethe work along said support for any positionof the table.

'18. A grinding machine comprising a wheels, means to adjust said suppxobase, a rotatable grindin'gwheel transversely movable thereon, a lowerslide on the base movable parallel with the grinding wheel axis, aremovable support thereon having a work supporting groove parallel withthe wheel axis, a transversely movable slide on said lower slide, a workregulating wheel mounted thereon axially parallel with the work, meansfor adjusting said work rotating wheel vertically relative to the workand positively actuated means to move the work axially along saidgroove.

19. A grinding machine comprising a base, a rotatable grinding wheeltransversely movable thereon, a work regulating wheel peripherallyopposed to the grinding wheel, means to 'move one of said wheels towardor away from the other, a removable. support betweem said wheelsarranged to hold the work in peripheral contact with said rt longieelaxes,

tudinally parallel with the w .means to adjust the work rotating wheel.vertically,-,and positively actuated mechanism to move the work alongsaid support for the grinding operation.

20. A grinding machine comprising a base, a grinding wheel mounted.thereon, means to rotate said grinding wheel, a regulating wheel workholding means between said wheels adapted and arranged to hold work ofround section in o erative relation base having transverse ways thereon,a slide on said ways, a grinding wheel mounted on the slide, a workregulating wheel mounted in peripheral opposition ,to the grindingwheel, a work support having a concave partial cylindrical surface ofthe same radius as that of the finished work arranged to hold the workagainst the peripheries of said wheels,'means to rotate said grindingwheel and regulating wheel at respective workgrinding andwork-regulating speeds, and

- means independent of the wheels to move a support during grmdm torotate and piece of work positively along said work 22. A. centerlessgrinding machine com prising an abrasive grinding wheel, a workregulating wheel opposed thereto, means to hold work of round sectionbetween and in contact with the active faces of said wheels, means torespectively rotate the'regulating wheel: slowly and the grinding wheelrapidly grind the work and positively actuated me a nism independent ofsaid.

grinding wheel which is constructed and arranged to :move the workaxially along said work holding means into operative relation to saidtwo wheels and thereafter permit the work to remain longitudinallyimmovable while it is being operated upon.

23. A centerless grinding machine comprising a grinding wheel, a workregulating wheel opposed thereto, means to hold round 'work andpositively actuated mechanism in dependent of said wheels to move asingle piece of work'axially into operative contact with said wheels andthen permit the work to dwell while being ground. 24. A centerlessgrinding machine comprising an abrasive grinding wheel, a workregulating wheel opposed thereto, means to guide and hold a piece ofwork of round section into contact with the active faces of said wheels,means to rotate the regulating wheel slowly and the grinding wheelrapidly to respectively rotate and grind the work, means for adjustingthe apparatus to accom. modate different sizes of work and a positivelyactuated plunger mechanism constructed and arranged to ush a single workpiece substantially axia ly into operative contact with said wheels andthereafter out of the grinding zone.

25. A grinding machine comprising two peripherally opposed abrasivewheels having parallel axes, means to rotate one wheel rapidly to grindthe work of round section and the other slowly to control the workrotation, a positioning member to hold round work between said wheels sothat their axes are not in the same plane, a support to hold a worksupply, and a positively operated reciprocatory plunger mechanism tomove a cylindrical piece of work from said support and along said workpositioning member in an axial direction into contact with the wheelsfor the grinding operation and thereafter move the work in the samedirection out of the grinding zone.

26. In grinding apparatus, in combina tion, a grinding throat adaptedfor simultaneous grinding and rotating action upon work of round sectionand comprising at least three members, one of said members being in theform of a grinding wheel rotated at relatively high-speed, another of isaid members being in the form of a regulating wheel rotated atrelatively low speed and in a direction to present an operative surfacetraveling in a direction opposite piece in operative relation to saidtwo wheels;

piece from said magazine to said grinding throat; means for adjustingsaid grinding throat to accommodate Work of difi'erent sizes; and meansmounting said magazine adapted to permit adjustment thereof relative tosaid grinding throat.

27. In grinding apparatus, in combination, a grinding throat adapted forsimultaneous grinding and rotating action upon Work of round section andcomprising at least three members, one of said members being in the formof a grinding wheel rotated at relatively high speed, another of saidmembers being in the form of a regulating Wheel rotated at relativelylow speed and in a direction to present an operative surface travelingin a direction opposite from that of the adjacent grinding wheel surfaceand adapted thereby to control the rotation of the work, and another ofsaid members being adapted to hold a work piece in operative relation tosaid twowheels; a drive shaft; means for effecting movement of a workpiece relative to said grinding throat, means for adjusting saidgrinding throat to accommodate work ofdifferent sizes; means foradjusting said work moving means relative to said grinding throat, and adriving connection between said shaft and said work moving meansoperative throughout the adjustment of the latter.

28. In grinding apparatus, in combination, a grinding throat adapted forsimultaneous grinding and rotating action upon work of round section andcomprising at least three members, one of said members being in the formof a grinding wheel rotated at relatively high speed, another of saidmembers being in the form of a regulatlng Wheel rotated at relativelylow speed and in a direction to present an operative surface travelingin a direction opposite from that of the adjacent grinding wheel surfaceand adapted thereby to control the rotation of the work, and another ofsaid members being adapted to hold a work piece in operative relation tosaid two wheels; a magazine for holding a su ply of work p eces;mechanism for trans erring a work piece from said magazine to saidgrinding throat; means for predetermining the relatlon of said mechanismto said grinding throat; a drive shaft; and a drivingconnection betweensaid shaft and said mechanism operative throughout the range of changeof relation of said mechanism to said grinding throat.

29 In grinding apparatus, in combination, a grinding throat adaptedfor'simultaneous grinding and rotatingaction upon Work of round sectionand comprising at least three members, one of said members being in theo5 form of a grinding wheel rotated at relagrinding throat; a driveshaft; means for,

adjustably positioning said plunger relative to said work holdingmember; and a drivingl connection between said plunger and sal shaftconstructed to be operative throu' bout the range of change ofadjustment 0' said plunger. 1

30. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a grindingthroat adapted for simultaneous grinding and r0- tating action upon workof round sect on and comprising three means, one of which means is inthe form of a grindin wheel adapted to be rotated at a relative y h1 hspeed, another of said means being in t e form of a regulating wheel adated to be rotated at a relatively low spec and in a direction to presentan operative surface traveling in a direction opposite from that of theadjacent grinding wheel surface, and

the third of which means includes a member for holding work of roundsection in operative relation to said two wheels; and power driven meansfor causing movement of the Work in a general direction lengthwise ofthe grinding throat. I Y

31. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a grindingthroat adapted for simultaneous grinding and rotating action' upon workof round section and comprisin three means, one of which means is in theorm of a rinding wheel adapted to be rotated at a re atively high speed,another of said .means being in the form of a regulating wheel adaptedto be rotated at. a relatively low speed and in a direction present anoperative surface traveling in "a grinding wheel surface, and the thirdof which means includes a member for holding work of round section inoperative relation prisin a work regulating wheel and a grinding w eel,means for positioning the work therebetween and peripherally opposed tothe grinding wheel, means for rotating the direction opposite from thatof the adjacent regulating wheel slowly and the grinding Wheel rapidlyrespectively to rotate and grind the work, a reciprocating mechanismconstructed and arranged to move the Work pieces successively to aposition between the Wheels for grinding, and power operated means foractuating the mechanism cyeli- (rally to permit grinding successive workpieces to a predetermined size.

Signed at Worcester, l\=Iassaehusett-s, this 16th day of Nov., 1922.

CHARLES H. NORTON.

